Moore: With NFL draft done, a look at how Cowboys' off-season stacks up

3/9

Steve Pfost/Staff Photographer

Grade: B- / Analysis: The Cowboys took a major step to revitalizing their defense by trading up to snatch LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, a potential star, with the sixth overall choice. Claiborne headlines a draft class that includes five defensive players – some of whom aren’t exactly well-known and aren’t necessarily expected to contribute immediately. Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford, Wake Forest outside linebacker Kyle Wilber, Eastern Washington safety Matt Johnson and Virginia Tech wide receiver Danny Coale don’t exactly jump off the page. But they help fortify positions that either lacked depth or were perceived to have an absence of quality players.

Did the Cowboys do what needed to be done? Is this team appreciably better than it was four days ago?

Before you tweet your opinion or fan the Internet flames by posting your grade, let’s broaden the discussion.

Has this team taken the necessary off-season steps to return to the playoffs?

The draft is the second part of the journey. Free agency was the first. The Cowboys’ draft approach was shaped, in part, by what transpired in free agency.

This draft marked the first time in 30 years the team used its first four picks on defense. Five of the Cowboys’ seven picks were devoted to that side of the ball.

“When does the offensive draft start?” defensive coordinator Rob Ryan bellowed good-naturedly as he walked the halls of Valley Ranch after the team took Wake Forest outside linebacker Kyle Wilber in the fourth round.

Free agency allowed the Cowboys to improve the interior of their offensive line, secure the backup quarterback position and find a starting cornerback.

The draft continued the reclamation project underway in the secondary, added bodies to hurl at opposing quarterbacks and produced another receiving threat at tight end.

“I really like what we’ve done in free agency and in this draft relative to the secondary,” owner Jerry Jones said. “And certainly, we think we’ve given ourselves some options for things to come.

“Defense, I think that really fits good.

“And when you talk about our needs as far as addressing things, we’ve been pretty vocal about our offensive line. We’ve been able to do that.”

Here’s a look at the team’s major objectives entering the off-season and where they stand.

Upgrade the secondary: Speculation has focused on Mike Jenkins’ future since the club used its first-round pick on cornerback Morris Claiborne. That’s understandable, but here’s the bottom line at the moment:

The Cowboys have replaced the declining skills of Terence Newman and Alan Ball in the secondary with free agent Brandon Carr and Claiborne. That’s a significant improvement.

Upgrade the pass rush: The Cowboys didn’t sign anyone in free agency to help here. Two picks in this draft — defensive end Tyrone Crawford in the third and Wilber in the fourth — were used to address this need.

It’s premature to suggest what sort of impact either player will have in 2012, but Crawford and Wilber will be looked at as depth players who won’t push for starting jobs.

Upgrade the interior of the offensive line: Guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau were signed as free agents to replace veterans Kyle Kosier, Derrick Dockery and Montrae Holland. The first rookie free agent the club signed when the draft ended Saturday evening was Ronald Leary, a tackle at Memphis who will work at guard.

These three make the Cowboys younger and more athletic in the interior of the line. Livings will probably start at one guard spot. Bernadeau will have a chance to start at the other guard spot or could find himself pushing Phil Costa at center. Leary is in the competition at guard.

The Cowboys used free agency to sign a backup quarterback (Kyle Orton), a starting fullback (Lawrence Vickers) and an inside linebacker (Dan Connor) who could start now that Bradie James and Keith Brooking won’t return.

The team used a fifth-round pick (Danny Coale) on a slot receiver who will be given the chance to replace Laurent Robinson, a sixth-round pick (James Hanna) on a tight end who should be a superior receiving threat to the departed Martellus Bennett and a seventh-round pick (Caleb McSurdy) on an inside linebacker to contribute on special teams.

“We feel good that we stepped back and said, ‘OK, what is this draft strong in?’” coach Jason Garrett said. “‘What’s this free agency period strong in?’

“We looked at the landscape together, we targeted guys and for the most part, things worked out the way we wanted it to.”

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.